Fathers

Psalms 31

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In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness. Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me. For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me. Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my stronghold. Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth. I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Yahweh. I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities. You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place. Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away. Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, a horror to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me. I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life. But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness. Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt. Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men! In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues. Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city. As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you. Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 31:20

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"You will protect them in Your tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues" [Psalm 31:20]. But here meanwhile while evil tongues murmur against them, saying, Who has come thence? You will protect them in the tabernacle, that of faith in those things, which the Lord wrought and endured for us in time.

Exposition on Psalm 31 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, "You will hide them," he shows the benefits of God toward the saints through liberation from evil. But because man can suffer a twofold evil -- namely, in deed and in word -- first he shows when he protects from the first evil. Second, how from the second, at "You will protect them." He says therefore, "You will hide them," and so on. He speaks by way of similitude: just as if someone were sought for death, whoever hid him in the secret places of his house, there he would be safe. So it is with the saints. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

He who fears God cannot lose God. But he who fears something other than God has what ought to be taken from him. But he who fears God is secure everywhere. "How great is the multitude of your sweetness, O Lord, which you have hidden for those who fear you; you have perfected it for those who hope in you." Therefore the fear of God ought to be perfect, because "it shall be well with those who fear God," because they shall come to the blessing of glory.

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2 ↗